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MAX SVÄRDH

Co-founder and creative director, Axel Arigato

Max Svärdh is the Gothenburg-born Co-founder and Creative Director of Axel Arigato. Starting his career as a teenager importing denim, Max has always been curious about product and design and before Axel Arigato, launched several e-commerce ventures within interior and fashion. This entrepreneurial spirit continues through Axel Arigato. Having had no formal training, the usual limitations were never there to restrict the design process. To go from never designing a shoe to launching a successful sneaker brand is testament to Max’s mother tongue being the visual language.

SANAZ DIZAJ PARHAM

Brand Director, Axel Arigato

Sanaz Dizaj Parham currently holds the position of Brand Director at Axel Arigato where she’s responsible mainly with the business areas that shape the brand Axel Arigato externally including strategic marketing, brand communication, digital media, creative content, retail design and developing new brand initiatives. She joined Axel Arigato and founders Max Svärdh and Albin Johansson in 2015 (Employee No.3), a few months after it was launched and has been a key member in building the company from scratch.

NEIL SHARMAN

Global Design Director / Architect

Neil Sharman is a highly experienced global Design Director / Architect, working with leading brands in their field, including Burberry, Nike, Dunhill, Selfridges, adidas, Timberland and Dr Martens.

Neil was appointed Design Director of Architecture at Burberry in 2011 to work in collaboration with Christopher Bailey, forming the brand’s in-house Design Studio. The studio led with high ambition, the first project being the brand’s global flagship 121 Regent Street in London, UK. To date the studio has created over 250 stores, in addition to pop-up stores and the architecture for the brand’s cosmetics sector.

Neil has a Master’s in Architecture from Bournemouth University.

JELLE SAPULETE

Global Design Director, adidas

Jelle Sapulete, is an experienced global Design Director working with some of the best brands in the business, including adidas, UXUS, Starbuck’s and more, with a Master’s in Architecture from the Academy of Architecture Amsterdam.

Jelle works on future retail concepts and brand experiences like the adidas KNIT-FOR-YOU store in Berlin, the flagship store in London and the boutique store a3 in Beijing. Jelle is from the Netherlands and is currently Global Design Director at adidas.

JENNY LEE

Life at home leader, Ikea, Founder of Studio Aikieu

Jenny Lee is a researcher, entrepeneur, creative strategist, founder of Studio Aikieu and lifestyle brand edit. She is a leading advocate on the transformative role that design can play in the development of regenerative and equitable futures.

Alongside her studio, Jenny is also the Life at Home Leader at IKEA, supporting IKEA in envisaging the future of home and retail.

Jenny has a MSc, Entrepreneurship and Innovation and a Master’s degree in Textile Futures.

MATT SPOORS

Director of Architecture & Store Design, Dunhill

After graduating in Interior Architecture from Brighton University, Matt started his career working for Universal Design Studio, working closely with Edward Barber and Jay Osgerby on the first critically acclaimed Stella McCartney Flagship store in New York’s Meatpacking district, followed by Stella’s second store in London’s Bruton Street.

Matt’s focus has been Fashion Retail, collaborating with Selfridges, French Connection and Old Navy, followed by in-house roles at Hackett and Burberry.

Currently in his fifth year at Dunhill, he leads an international team of designers and project managers, creating and implementing a new store concept based around Dunhill’s heritage and architectural codes.

KEVIN VUONG

SVP Global Store Design & Development, Capri Holdings

With over 20 years of experience in the luxury retail industry, Kevin is a licensed architect with a passion for creative retail design which strives to seamlessly marry art and commerce. Prior to his current role with Capri Holdings across the Versace, Jimmy Choo and Michael Kors brands, Kevin worked with Coach before moving to Michael Kors. Born in Vietnam and raised in Los Angeles where he completed his Bachelor’s in Architecture at the University of California Berkeley, Kevin now lives and works in New York City.

ADELENE TEH

Co-founder + Executive Director, Beulah

Adelene Teh is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of Beulah and has been integral to Beulah’s growth to date.

After gaining her Master’s of Architecture from the University of Melbourne, Adelene applied her skills at award winning architecture practices before co-founding Beulah. Driving the vision at Beulah, Adelene is a sought-after speaker and thought leader and is recognised as News Corp’s Next 30 Most Influential Victorians.

DAVID MONAGHAN

General Manager Commercial + Culture, Beulah

As the General Manager Commercial + Culture, David has more than 30 years of international and domestic shopping centre experience across luxury leasing, asset management and new development.

Passionate about future trends and determined to change the physical retail space, David is Beulah’s foremost specialist in the delivery and execution of the visionary retail and hospitality components within STH BNK By Beulah.